Majority of Americans Agree Vaccines Are Vital, New Study Shows

You’ve seen the headlines and probably read the social media threads of parents questioning childhood vaccines. You might even know someone who has delayed or skipped immunizations for their kids out of well-intentioned — but ultimately misplaced — concerns about vaccine safety and effectiveness. But a new study shows that the majority of Americans believe vaccines are not only safe and effective, they’re a must.

What the Survey Found

A new Pew Research Center survey asked 1,549 adults living in the U.S. their opinions on the safety, efficacy and necessity of vaccines. A full 82 percent support requiring children attending public school to be vaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), with 73 percent believing it offers high preventative health benefits and 66 percent saying it’s low-risk. Just over half trust scientists to give a full and accurate picture of vaccine effects, while 84 percent who had visited their doctor in the last year said they felt listened to and respected. Republicans and Democrats held roughly the same views.

One group who held slightly less enthusiastic — yet still positive — views: parents with kids 4 and under. Sixty percent believe in the MMR’s health benefits, and 52 percent say risks are low.

The survey also asked participants nine questions on a range of science topics to rate their level of science knowledge. Those who scored lower were less likely to see high preventive health benefits of the MMR vaccine or to trust information from medical scientists. The 20 percent of people who have used alternative medicine instead of conventional treatments were also more concerned about the risk of MMR vaccine side effects and less likely to believe in a school mandate.

"This survey looks in-depth at people's views about the MMR vaccine and whether or not those views are connected with people's trust in medical science," said lead author and Associate Director of Research Cary Funk in a statement. "One of the striking findings is that parents of young children express more concern about the safety of the MMR vaccine. Yet, like other Americans, they hold broadly positive views about medical scientists and their research on childhood vaccines."

What It Means for Parents

There are a lot of myths about vaccines, so it’s important to separate facts from fiction. What we do know: Measles can be deadly. Vaccines are extremely safe, and they’re 90 percent effective. It’s essential to get the two-dose MMR series on the recommended schedule for full protection.

“There has been debate about the safety of childhood vaccines, especially the MMR vaccine, for more than a decade,” said Funk. And it’s important to understand and address these concerns, since parents with young children are “directly facing a decision about whether or not to follow the recommended immunization schedule for measles, mumps and rubella starting when their children are about 12 to 15 months old.”

Keep in mind that although the vaccine has drastically cut the rate of measles infections in the U.S., the disease is far from gone. In fact, it’s quite common in other parts of the world: An estimated 20 million people worldwide get measles and 146,000 people die from it every year, according to the CDC. Unvaccinated people who travel to affected areas can contract the virus and bring it back to the U.S., as was the case— twice — recently in New Jersey.

If you have concerns about vaccines, talk to your doctor. Vaccinating your child is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family’s health.

Written by Colleen de Bellefonds

Colleen de Bellefonds is the Senior Editor of WhatToExpect.com. Follow her on Twitter @ColleenCYNC.